Tumkur (Karnataka), Jun 1 (IANS): The central government's scheme to provide direct cash benefit to the poor for cooking gas got off in 18 districts across the country Saturday with its formal launch by Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily here.

Called the Direct Benefit Transfers for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), the scheme would benefit over 6.7 million LPG Consumers in these districts. The subsidy on LPG cylinders would be provided directly to consumers in their Aadhaar-linked or Unique Identification Number (UID) bank accounts.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chairman Nandan Nilekani were present at the function held in this town, about 70 km from Bangalore.

The scheme was simultaneously flagged-off by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy at a function in Hyderabad at which Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi was present, according to an official release.

Those who have to benefit from the scheme but not linked their bank accounts to their Aadhaar number would have to do so in three months. After Sep 1, they would not get subsidy if the linkage has not been completed.

The scheme has been launched as it is expected to save millions of rupees in subsidy for the central government.